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RDRURTY "at o". H. PAXSON.

Lawn Mower.

' ePawnmcl Feb.- 1, 188|. A

mlNVEN-TORS.

TORN EYES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. DRURY AND CHARLES H. PAXSON, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO; SAID PAXSONASSIGNOR TO SAID DRURY.

LAWN-MOWER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 237,099, dated February1, 1881.

` Application filed January 28, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that lwe, FRANois E. DRURY andCHARLES Il. PAXSON, of Cleveland, in t-he county of Cuyahoga and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLawn-Mowers; and we do hereby declare the following tov be a full,clear, and exact description of the'inve'ntion, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

Ouil invention relates to that class of lawnmowers in whicha rotary headis provided with spiral blades acting in connection with a zed blade,and in-which motion is imparted to the rotary head from the driving orground wheels.

The invention consists in the parts and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

1, In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,showing the construction and arrangement ofthe parts. Fig. 2 is atransverse vertical section, taken in part through the ground-wheel andin part through the center of the Y cutter-head. Fig. 3 represents, indetail, views of the inner faces of the '1;ubs, respectively, of theground and concentric gear wheels.

A represents the frame of the machine, supported by two ground-wheels,B, and a roller, C. The ground-wheels 'are mounted loosely on journals aon the main frame, and by the side of each wheel there is mountedloosely on the same journal an internally-toothed gearwheel, D. Theinner face of the hub of the ground-wheel B is provided withratchet-teeth to receive clutch-pins b, mounted in the hub of thegear-wheel D and pushedoutward by spiral springs c. This arrangementpermits the ground-wheels to turn backward freely and loosely, butcauses them to drive the gearwheel D when turned forward. It is obviousthat if the parts are so transposed that the ratchet-teeth be on thegear-wheel D and the clutch-pins in the hub of driving-wheel B they willperform the same office.

The wheels D gear into and drive the pinion E on the end of a transverseshaft, F,

l mounted on the main frame and sustaining the rotary cutter-head G. Thecutter-head is provided, as usual, with spiral blades or knives,arranged to act in connection with a fixed knife or cutter-bar, I-I,located between the ground-wheels and the roller. The cutter-bar H issecured to the main frame of the machine by a metal rod, which passesthrough lugs on either end of the cutter-bar H and through holes in theframe of the machine. Said rod is provided with a nut on each end, bywhich means the main frame or sides of the machine and the cutter barare securely bound t0- gether. The cutter-bar is so constructed inrelation to the main frame that while it is securely attached to theframe it is free to rock, to a limited extent, on the rod or bolt whichattaches it thereto, to provide for the adjustment which may be madenecessary by the wear of the knives. The sides of the main frame areprovided with lugs or extensions K, through which pass adjListing-screws K. The cutter-bar H is also provided with correspondingextensions K2, and against which the adjustin g-screws bear on each sideof the pivotal point.

It will be observed that the cutter-bar may be adjusted Vin the exactposition required with reference to the blades of the rotary headbyraising or depressing the adjusting-screws.

- In order that the height of cut may be regulated at will the roller ismade adjustable by mounting it in arms J, which are provided with slotsto receive clamping bolts or screws.

The outer side of the main frame is provided with a circular extensionor rim, into which the revolving gear-wheel D lits. Said gearwheelhaving a web or solid back, and fitting into thisrim, a completevprotecting-case is thus formed for the gearing.

It will be noticed that the driving pole or handle terminates in aspring-fork, which engages with studs xed upon the stationary frame ofthe machine, and upon which the said forked ends spring. On each side ofthe studs on the main frame are fixed stops, which determine theposition of the driving-handle. These stops, however, are sufficientlyfar apart to allow of a limited amount of free play to the handle. Thehandle-studs are suficient-lylong IOO to admit of the reversal ofthehandle when it is desired to sharpen the cutter by running thc machinebackward. To accomplish this sln1rpening, the drivingwheels, which haveright and left hand clutches, are changed from one side of the machineto the other. This will reverse the motion ofthe revolvingrcntter whenthe machine is rnn backward. The drivinghandle is then reversed and thestationary cntter-bar adjusted in suiciently-elose juxtaposition withthe revolving cutter. An)v grinding.,r solution, suoli as oil and emery,is applied to the knives, when, by running the machine backward, theknives Will be sharpened and ground to an accurate cutting,r relationwith each other.

Another feature of our device is the detachably-attached bent drivingtongue or pole. It' too high or too low to snit the convenience of theoperator,it may be readily detached, turned Over and attached, therebyraising or lowering the outer end of the handle, as the case may be.This is accomplished byfornling the spring-fork portions of the tonguecurved in an edgewise direction, thereby causing the handle proper, inits connection with said fork portions, to be inclined upwardly when thetongue is in one position, and to be inclined downwardly when the tongueis in reversed position. This feature and manner of adjustability, sofa' as we are aware, is novel with this invention.

1. A lawn-mower having a. loose ground wheel and an independentinternally-toothed gear-wheel, the latter forming, in combination withthe main frame, a protecting'case for the gearing, substantially asshown.

2. The combination ot a forked spring-handie and lugs on the main frameextending beyond the sides of the handle-stops, to allow of the reversalof the driving-handle, substantially as described.

3. In combination with a lawn-mower, a detachably-attached bent pole ordriving-handle, by reversing which its height may be regulated,snbstantially as shown.

In testimony whereof' We have signed our naines to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANCIS E. DRURY. CHARLES H. PAXSON.

Witnesses:

L. L. LEGGETT, JN0. CRoWELL, Jr.

